The
research is in on Healthy Aging and Exercise For Older Adults and Senior
Citizen Fitness Programs!
Living
a healthy lifestyle with the appropriate exercise and nutritional program is
one of the best ways to enjoy good health, a longer life, improve your
memory and mental abilities at any age. For older adults being fit can
keep you out of an assisted living or nursing home facility and help you
avoid age related injuries. As a matter of fact even people that
are already in adult-senior care facilities can regain mobility,
mental sharpness and a stronger body when they participate in a well
rounded, safe and effective fitness program.
The
best fitness program will include activities that address the three
major areas for older adults, which are balance, aerobic capacity and
strength. While all three of these are important, strength training is
particularly important as we age because we start to lose muscle mass
and function starting in our 30's. This is a condition called sarcopenia.
People who are inactive can lose an estimated 3% to 5% every decade
starting as early as the age of 30. This causes reduced mobility, overall
strength and arthritis as we continue to age.
This
week I was out to dinner with my 78-year-old father, there was a woman in her
eighties sitting next to us. We somehow started talking and she said she was
having issues with her knees, was taking multiple medications and that she
already had one surgery and still needed to have the other knee operated on
too. Noticing that she was overweight I asked her what she did for
exercise, she laughed and said I am "too old" to exercise. The truth
is the very reason she was in her unhealthy state was most likely due to
lack of exercise, poor diet, being overweight and putting too much of that
extra weight she was carrying on her knees on a daily basis throughout her
lifetime.
It’s never too late to create new healthy living habits, starting a new exercise
program today will prevent muscle deterioration, improve bone density,
build strength, increase your stamina and longevity with
an improved overall quality of life!
The
CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week, break that
down to 30 minutes per day for five days per week for older adults and it
is pretty easy to accomplish because most either work part time or are retired. So come on what are you waiting for? NOW is YOUR time to live the best life, a life filled with strength, balance and healthy, happy days ahead!
